Hi All,

My first post. Please be kind to me.

Background: I'm a 40 year old Malaysian based in KL. Currently handling a marketing and pr role for a startup company with regional presence in SEA. In the next 10-20 years as part of my career trajectory, I plan to be in a marketing role or probably become a lecturer in marketing when i'm older (say 55yrs+ above)

Previous work experience:
- 7 years in the corporate world - focused on regional marketing (executional), partnerships & business development roles
- 10 years as an entrepreneur - handled A-Z in a B2B and B2C business (average annual revenue RM3m)

Education: No diploma/degree. School of hard knocks a.k.a college dropout and a late bloomer

1) Question:
a) Is this online marketing course (Mini MBA In Marketing - by Professor Mark Ritson) worth it as part of my career growth? It costs MYR8,000 for 12 lessons

About the online marketing course:
The Mini MBA in Marketing is a CPD accredited, MBA standard course. Covering the same core marketing modules as leading MBA programmes - but in just 12 online lessons - It will give you the tools you need to become more confident, more effective and more inspired marketer, 95% of our alumni feel more effective at work.

Armed with a BSc and PhD in Marketing from Lancaster University, Mark has spent the past 20 years teaching marketing to MBA students at some of the world’s top business schools, including award winning courses at London Business School, MIT and Melbourne Business School.

Like most business school professors teaching is only a small part of his workload. He also combines his work as a consultant for some of the biggest brands on the planet to ensure his content is both applied, up to date and immensely practical.

So, whether you’re looking to refresh your marketing skills, take the next step in your career or up-skill your entire team, the Mini MBA is the perfect way to fit MBA level learning around your working life.

Website: https://mba.marketingweek.com/

2019 YouTube: Mini MBA in Marketing with Mark Ritson | Become the best marketer you can be
https://youtu.be/pYG11namQ_0

2018 YouTube: Marketing Week's Mini MBA in Marketing - Forget everything you think you know
https://youtu.be/YddVaj2gJV8

Download Course Brochure here (saved it in google drive):
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1W9Tp72ZeR0...iew?usp=sharing

His column on marketing for 20 years:
https://www.marketingweek.com/mark-ritson/

b) Are there any free marketing programmes that you could recommend similar to the above? There's a lot of noise out there, what more with all the self-proclaimed marketing gurus (I scared. Lol). So far I'm only watching those free videos by LinkedIn Learning but all scratching the surface. Not meaty enough. Just appetizers. Any marketing professionals (or you know of any marketing friends) can share their thoughts/advice?

2) Objective:
- Reason am asking; I have no basic foundation in Marketing, mostly executional work done in the past and not strategy focused. Now, I'm required to level up my marketing knowledge within the shortest time frame possible, as part of my new job requirements. (I did the Richard Branson - “If somebody offers you an amazing opportunity but you are not sure you can do it, say yes – then learn how to do it later!”). Just don't wanna spend RM8k blindly. Appreciate your time in reading and your replies.

Thank you in advance.

P/S: I was thinking of taking an MBA (with a focus on marketing?), but that's another story for another day. Saw all the MBA threads. Am reading every post/reply diligently.

Sorry can't find the edit function to my original post. Wanted to add:

He has worked globally as a private marketing consultant for clients that have included Baxter, Loewe, McKinsey, PepsiCo, Subaru, Eli Lilly, Donna Karan, Westpac, Shiseido, Flight Centre, Johnson & Johnson, De Beers, Sephora, Benefit, Amgen, Ericsson, Jurlique, Cloudy Bay, Unilever, KPMG and WD40.

For thirteen years – from 2002 to 2015 – he served as in-house professor for LVMH – the world’s largest luxury group – working in Europe with senior executives from brands like Louis Vuitton, Dom Perignon and Hennessy.

I note your intention to become a lecturer in Marketing when you're older. For your info, academia nowadays requires staffers at least a PhD - and you cannot get a PhD with a 'mini MBA'.

Not sure the depth of the mini MBA, but a full-fledged, research based MBAs are more rigourous. And if you're looking into contributing to the body of knowledge, full MBA with Marketing focus is advised.

In my opinion, i dont think it worth it. You'll need a proper MBA to venture into lecturing field. I dont think the mini MBA helps.

Although you have no diploma/degree, you can try to look for universities that offer MBA with APEL.

Thanks for the heads up!

Noted minimum PhD for academia. The sales dude at one of the MBA courses i was enquiring from a private uni told me "MBA is sufficient to become a lecturer" - i guess for the Degree courses at their uni.

Yes aware cannot get PhD with the "mini MBA". The "mini MBA" it's more like a professional course they decided to brand it that way i guess.

Thanks again

Thanks! Actually i'm thinking from both angles:

Short term:
Do this mini MBA professional course to level up quickly to help me in my work right now

Long term:
Do a proper MBA (and then PhD?) in my path to be a lecturer in future.

Not many universities offer direct entry to MBA with APEL. Only Veritas that I'm aware of.

In my conversation with them. Their feedback:

INTI Subang:
- Take Diploma 2 years > APEL > MBA (Woot. 2 years diploma @.@)

Veritas University Colllege (BAC):
- APEL > MBA

Taylor's & Sunway/Lancaster:
- Awaiting to have a call with them

I assumed you're gonna pursue PhD overseas. not all PhD programmes accept all MBA graduates. Perhaps for starters you can take a look at what PhD are you going to take, if they take/consider MBA graduates - this is very important because not all MBA programmes out there have research component i.e. thesis.

PhD is a very rigourous research program, you need to at least experience writing full-bodied thesis.

Good luck!